Maria Malmer Stenergard: The relationship with the United States is rocking.

-It’s a good morning, says Maria Malmer Stenergard as she steps into the VIP terminal at Arlanda for departure against Brussels.

A little unexpected opinion given that President Trump has published his tariffs the night before and the stock exchanges have begun to fall around the world. But it is not Trump that the minister takes on this morning but another news: Colombia will buy the Swedish fighter aircraft Jas. The visit she made in Colombia last winter, along with A delegation Swedish companieshas produced results.

The government level is invited on butter bread. Salmon and air -dried ham with brie and fresh figs. The Foreign Minister has been given a thick cover from his employees and reads the secretly stamped documents before the meeting with the NATO countries’ foreign ministers. A meeting where many looks are directed at what message the alliance’s most important member has; The United States in the form of Foreign Minister Marco Rubio.

The plays from American representatives shake about Europe. The fact that a member of the Defense Alliance openly declares that it wants to annex another member’s territory (Greenland) is unique. The reactions from Denmark are strong. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has called the US actions for an « Attack against Denmark’s sovereignty« 

From Maria Malmer Stenergard and other Swedish ministers, the statements stop by Sweden behind Denmark. A continuation of the government’s mantra to have ice in the stomach and see what the Trump administration actually does, not always respond to what it says.

– With ice in my stomach I mean to keep my head cold and prepare for a variety of scenarios. When it comes to Greenland, we keep very close contact, almost daily, with our colleagues in Denmark and hearing what they want for support and act accordingly.

Is it Denmark who wants Sweden to keep a low profile or is it self -elected?

– I wouldn’t say we keep a low profile. We support Denmark at every stage and then it is clear that we listen to what kind of support they want and act based on it.

Maria Malmer Stenergard’s party mate Gunnar Hökmark, former parliamentary member, EU parliamentarian and party secretary, has another attitude. In one Debate article in Svenska Dagbladet he suggests that a Nordic force be set up on the island, in agreement with the Greenland rule, to defend international law.

– Greenland is part of NATO. The development right now is to strengthen the military presence there, and that is what Denmark does, comments Maria Malmer Stenergard.

Would Sweden contribute with a squad if Denmark requests it?

– We must decide on that then, in such cases.

When it comes to Europe’s relationships with the United States, Maria Malmer Stenergard does not want to say anything that wounds further split between the continents. She hopes the relationship can get better.

– But it is clear that trust is rocking. I want to get back to a trust.

Maria Malmer Stenergard has been Foreign Minister for six months, after Tobias Billström quickly and unexpectedly left. Then Joe Biden was president of the United States. Few believed in a trade war, that Ukrainian President Zelenskyj would be humiliated in the White House or that the United States would vote as Russia and North Korea on a UN resolution on Ukraine.

She still believes in the togetherness in the Western world.

– But it has become clear in recent months that there is a strong community of interest in Europe and not least in the Nordic countries.

Maria Malmer Stenergard occurs professionally and neutrally. As she usually does. Given the condition in the world, is there anything she reacts strongly to?

– As a human being knows and of course I think a lot of things, but my task is to act in accordance with what is best for Sweden. I rarely think that is to act in affect.

When were you upset last?

– I would not say that I was upset when I was visiting Israel and Palestine, but I have to say that it took on how infected the situation is there. It’s so frozen so you just feel a great sadness.

Her journey in the Middle East has been severely criticized, partly because it coincided with Israel began a new offensive in Gaza.

– It is more important than ever to go there. It is a very difficult conflict and of course I met representatives of both Israel and Palestine. By having a relationship with Israel, we can also criticize, and I did, not least when it comes to humanitarian aid to Gaza, to stop settlements and coming to the negotiating table.

On her journey, Maria Malmer Stenergard also visited the West Bank.

What are your impressions from there?

– I see an aggressive behavior from Israel where you put new land underneath and expand. It is contrary to international law, which we are also clear about.

What can Sweden do to support the Palestinian authority?

– We do quite a lot. We have the largest number of seconds of EU countries to Palestine.

Secondary means that Sweden lends experts from various authorities to help, in this case, Palestine to build police, prosecutors and other things needed for a functioning state.

During her two days in Brussels, she meets, among other things, six exilia journalists from Russia and Belarus and receive questions about what relationships Sweden has with the countries at present. Basically none, the answer.

– Fight on, the Stenergard encourages journalists when the press conference is over.

– You with, some of them answer.

Is it difficult to be a foreign minister?

– It’s very difficult. It is difficult to accept that you have to prioritize because there is a lot you want to do but do not have time. When it is currently calming down somewhere in the world, something new pops up. It is also frustrating that you cannot tell everything you do, for example in a consular case.

In the second scale, she sees it as a huge benefit to work in an area that is at the center of politics.

After the NATO meeting, Maria Malmer Tenergard speaks with Swedish journalists on site. She has had a brief conversation with US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio and notes that the message is that they want to be part of the defense alliance and sees it as incredibly important.

Rubio unexpectedly sets his planned press conference. Instead, he meets a selected crowd of journalists, mainly American, and explains that Greenlanders do not want to be part of Denmark.

Then Maria Malmer Stenergard is already sitting in a police card on her way to Brussels Airport for a return trip with the government plan.